According to InSight Crime and US custom officers, methamphetamine abuse is on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Border officials in California are seeing a resurgence of drug traffic across the border. Backed by massive Chinese imports of the toxic chemical components of crystal meth, Mexican cartels are turning the production of the drug into what can only be described as a corporate venture backed by industrial resources. Unfortunately, such massive production is only possible if the demand meets the supply. The swollen demand in the United States means extensive methamphetamine abuse that is destroying countless lives.

Methamphetamine Abuse Fueled by Increased Access

On August 18, 2020, a report by Zachary Goodwin on the InSight Crime website reveals that over 59 tons of methamphetamines had been seized to date in the fiscal year 2020, which runs from October to October, by the California Border Patrol (CBP). Although the year was far from over, those seizures were 1.5 times greater than the 34.3 tons seized in the fiscal year 2019. By the end of the year, over 156,000 pounds of methamphetamine, equaling 78 tons, were seized by the CBP. Incredibly, according to the latest statistics provided by the California Border Patrol, in an additional two and a half months, more than 19 tons of methamphetamine were seized in California alone.

Such an increase in methamphetamine seizures is not only because of an increase in law enforcement efforts. Indeed, it is estimated that the amount of drugs seized at any border crossing is a small percentage of the amount of drugs being smuggled. The increases in seizures means that methamphetamine abuse is spiraling out of control in California, and the cartels are taking advantage.

Given such a spike in illegal imports, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) believes the life-threatening problem of methamphetamine abuse is swelling in Southern California. Within proximity to the Mexican border, Southern California is a primary target of the Mexican drug cartels, particularly major population centers like San Diego, Los Angeles, and the San Bernardino-Riverside metropolitan area.

Drug Overdose Deaths and Methamphetamine Abuse

Nationwide, methamphetamine abuse led to an increase in drug overdose deaths in 2019. According to a New York Times article, of the 72,000 U.S. residents that died from a drug overdose in 2019, 16,5000 of those overdoses involved “stimulants such as meth.” Although most media outlets only highlight opioid overdose deaths, overdoses caused by methamphetamine abuse are a severe problem nationwide.

In response to these deaths, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) launched Operation Crystal Shield in 2020, a new initiative to support local police in the targeting of the major drug trafficking networks. The goal of Operation Crystal Shield is to stem illegal imports to eight major methamphetamine transportation hubs in the United States: Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and St. Louis. As detailed in a DEA press release on February 20, 2020, “Together, these DEA Field Divisions accounted for more than 75 percent of methamphetamine seized in the U.S. in 2019.”

Although only one of the eight hubs, Los Angeles County accounts for a large part of those nationwide seizures. Since 2013, methamphetamine is the most identified drug from law enforcement seizures in Los Angeles County. Given its prevalence, methamphetamine abuse continues to be on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the response by the Mexican cartels shows vastly different approaches to drug dealing during a global pandemic.

Methamphetamine Abuse Fueled by Mexican Drug Cartels

For example, according to InSight Crime, the Tijuana cartel’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is to artificially lower the street prices of methamphetamine. At the same time, they also have been increasing the supply of the drug on the streets. Tijuana sees an opportunity to use the boredom and ennui of quarantine to foster new addicts and expand their base of operations.

In contrast, the Sinaloa Cartel is increasing the street price of crystal meth to reflect a greater cost in the importation of the precursor chemicals from China. According to an article from the VICE Media Group on the Spanish-language version of their website, rather than build their business, the Sinaloa Cartel wants to make sure that their profits stay high.

As a Sinaloa drug trafficker named Jesus explains, “As a supplier, it’s good because you earn more money, but my clients are going to have to increase the price per gram on the street, and there will be people who don’t like that… But since they are addicted to crystal meth, they will complain, but in the end, they will end up paying what we ask of them.”

TTC Supports Methamphetamine Abuse Recovery

As a provider of compassionate, professional healthcare and Substance User Disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery services, Tarzana Treatment Centers has been on the front lines of methamphetamine treatment for many years. With the worsening of the problem during the COVID-19 pandemic, our help is needed more than ever before.

If you or a loved one is suffering from methamphetamine abuse, please do not wait until another statistic is added to the tragic pile. Instead, be proactive and call us today to access our whole person and integrated healthcare approach to methamphetamine treatment. Our treatment programs save lives.